Page 75 of Reach for the Stars
Mortified was an understatement.
‘Sorry about all that though. I hope you’re OK.’
‘Perfectly fine,’ I replied automatically.
‘Your family and marriage don’t seem to have a lot of luck, do they?’ She pulled a pouty face, which I guessed was supposed to be sympathetic but Araminta wouldn’t know empathy if it got up and slapped her across the face with a wet lobster.
‘We’d better go, Fliss. We’re going to be late.’ Jesse slid the phone back in his pocket and I met his eyes. There was nothing to be late for, but he knew. He knew what needed to happen.
‘Oh, that’s such a shame. We should meet up.’ Minty checked her Apple watch as she spoke and scrolled through a couple of messages before looking back at me. ‘I’m absolutely rammed this week but I’ll be down for longer for the wedding so we’ll have time then. Just give Magnus your details and I’ll call you. Ciao!’ She tilted her head at Jesse. ‘See you soon. I hope.’
Jesse gave a nod so brief, a sneeze would have been longer but Minty didn’t seem to take offence. She had him in her sights and not a lot else mattered when that was the case. The result was usually the same: Minty got her way.
Jesse held the door for me and we both hurried through the rain to the pick-up and dived in.
‘Everything all right?’ he asked as we pulled on our seatbelts.
‘Yes, thanks.’ I gave a dismissive wave and flashed a smile.
And it was. Yes, I was in the middle of a personal disaster but I was making friends and perhaps really starting a new life. Maybe that was what I’d needed all along. I’d just gone about it in a rather dramatic way. But it was all good. Until Araminta had walked back in and dragged the past with her.
‘Sorry if you were embarrassed. I had no idea she had relations down here.’
‘Takes a lot more than that to embarrass me.’
‘Good to know,’ I replied.
‘Do you know him?’ Jesse asked.
‘Who?’
‘Magnus Montagu-Peak.’
‘No. Do you?’
‘Yes. Unfortunately.’
‘Not friends, then.’
‘Definitely not friends.’
I waited for the explanation but Jesse didn’t offer one.
‘Does he live locally?’
‘Seen the big place on the hill about half a mile before you get into the village?’
‘Briefly, I think.’
‘That’s his. Well, his parents’ really, but they couldn’t be bothered running it any more so live in an apartment within it and Magnus runs the estate. Or rather gets people to run it for him. He couldn’t manage a business if his life depended on it. Obviously, he takes all the credit, naturally.’
‘Sounds like they share a lot of family traits,’ I said.
‘Yeah?’
‘Definitely.’
‘Is he married?’
